Eat Up! Columbus features event to combat human trafficking

Five young, emerging chefs will showcase their talent at the second annual Eat Up!

Photo courtesy of Eat Up! Columbus

Columbus event at 6 p.m. Nov. 14, which will consist of a dinner, drinks, a silent auction and music.

Eat Up! Columbus will take place at the St. Charles Preparatory School, 2010 E. Broad St., and is hosted by the non-profit social enterprise Freedom a la Cart with the goal of raising money for the fight against human trafficking in Central Ohio.

“Human trafficking is the modern face of fear and despair, but Eat Up! Columbus is a celebration of hope and achievement,” says Jan Trent, the Executive Director of Freedom a la Cart, in a written statement.

Four of the five chefs that will be featured at the event are from local restaurants. Featured this year will be lead chef Patrick Caskey of Skillet, as well as Tommy Gallo of Gallo’s Kitchen, Julian Menaged of The Crest and Sangeeta Lakhani of The Table. The fifth chef, and – last year’s leading chef – Dustin Brafford of Opus in Denver, will also be preparing dishes.

The evening, designed to celebrate cause cuisine, restored lives and hope, will begin with a cocktail hour set to music by Osage and featuring the signature drink of the award-winning mixologist Cris Dehlavi of M Restaurant. Also, a silent auction will begin at 6 p.m. with online bidding available.

The chefs will prepare five tasting-courses for the guests to be seated to, each matched with a drink pairing.

Judge Paul M. Herbert, the developer of the Changing Actions to Change Habits (CATCH) Court program, will be honored during the fundraiser. The CATCH Court program helps fight human trafficking and aids in helping survivors in Columbus, and collaborates with Freedom a la Cart to provide support services for participants

Eat Up! Columbus will benefit Freedom a la Cart, which provides work force development, employment and social support to local survivors of human trafficking.

The event is aiming to improve from last year’s sold out event, which raised $100,000 for support services for trafficking survivors.

Tickets for the event are $150 per person, or $1500 for a table for 10. To purchase tickets, or for more information, visit www.eatupcolumbus.org.